Life Worth Living: How Someone You Love Can Still Enjoy Life in a Nursing Home - The Eden Alternative in Action

Rating:
Summary: An Ombudsman's point of view
Review: As a Regional Ombudsman, responsible for a large county in N. CA, I used this book to inspire people to form a "Family Council" in a sample nursing home and to lobby for the changes that Thomas recommends. The home adopted several of the changes and they transformed the home, once known as the worst in the county into the best. Several people emerged from years of depression, others simply took a whole new interest in life, others simply had whole-hearted laughter reenter their lives for the fist time in years. The Eden alternative is indeed the "recipe" for making one's years in long term care "worth living."

Rating:
Summary: An Ombudsman's point of view
Review: As a Regional Ombudsman, responsible for a large county in N. CA, I used this book to inspire people to form a "Family Council" in a sample nursing home and to lobby for the changes that Thomas recommends. The home adopted several of the changes and they transformed the home, once known as the worst in the county into the best. Several people emerged from years of depression, others simply took a whole new interest in life, others simply had whole-hearted laughter reenter their lives for the fist time in years. The Eden alternative is indeed the "recipe" for making one's years in long term care "worth living."

Rating:
Summary: Thomas advocates for a revolution in Nursing Home care.
Review: I am a Regional Ombudsman for a county in Northern California with responsibility for 970 Skilled Nursing "beds", so I see first hand what happens even in the "best" of Nursing Homes. This book, if taken seriously represents such a profound, yet so seemingly simple approach, that nursing homes would become "homes" for the first time - places where one could look forward to living out one's last years still growing and still having a reason for living. One nursing home in my district is beginning to implement it and one example will suffice. There was a woman who was so severely depressed, nothing could reach her - no drugs, no therapy, nothing! Then the facility put a cockatiel across from her room (part of Thomas'"Eden Plan.") Ever so slowly, she started to take an interest in that bird. Then she got out of bed on her own for the first time so she could see it better. Then she crossed the hall and started talking to the bird. Then she started talking to other residents and to the staff. Her depression was gone. A simple bird had done what no drugs, no therapists, nothing else could do. And that is but a tiny part of the picture. This particular nursing home has gone from what many considered to be the worst home (it's name among the people outside was "Hellhaven")in my district to, in my opinion, the best, and they are just getting started! Read this great book. You won't be able to put it down and it will change the way look at nursing homes forever. Rev. Wayne Bradley Robinson, Ph.D., Regional Ombudsman for Placer County, California. [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Thomas advocates for a revolution in Nursing Home care.
Review: I am a Regional Ombudsman for a county in Northern California with responsibility for 970 Skilled Nursing "beds", so I see first hand what happens even in the "best" of Nursing Homes. This book, if taken seriously represents such a profound, yet so seemingly simple approach, that nursing homes would become "homes" for the first time - places where one could look forward to living out one's last years still growing and still having a reason for living. One nursing home in my district is beginning to implement it and one example will suffice. There was a woman who was so severely depressed, nothing could reach her - no drugs, no therapy, nothing! Then the facility put a cockatiel across from her room (part of Thomas'"Eden Plan.") Ever so slowly, she started to take an interest in that bird. Then she got out of bed on her own for the first time so she could see it better. Then she crossed the hall and started talking to the bird. Then she started talking to other residents and to the staff. Her depression was gone. A simple bird had done what no drugs, no therapists, nothing else could do. And that is but a tiny part of the picture. This particular nursing home has gone from what many considered to be the worst home (it's name among the people outside was "Hellhaven")in my district to, in my opinion, the best, and they are just getting started! Read this great book. You won't be able to put it down and it will change the way look at nursing homes forever. Rev. Wayne Bradley Robinson, Ph.D., Regional Ombudsman for Placer County, California. [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Anyone involved in geriatric care should read this book.
Review: If you have read "The Eden Alternative Project" you will not see anything new in this book. "Life Worth Living" appears to be revised for a wider audience. Both books illustrate how poorly we care for our elderly under the medical model that exists in the majority of nursing homes today. The most life threatening "diseases" in nursing homes are hopelessness and loneliness; even in the best of facilities. The solution presented by Dr. Thomas is to make nursing homes more "homey". He uses children, animals, plants and staff restructuring to accomplish this goal. Clear evidence is presented showing cost effectivness of "edenizing" a facility. His facility has experienced decreased medication use, decreased infection rates, improved overall health of residents and staff retention rates that are well above the industry average. This book should be read by anyone involved in caring for the elderly or anyone considering placement of a loved one in a nursing home. Evan Kay OTR/L Occupational Therapist

Rating:
Summary: Thomas advocates for a revolution in Nursing Home care.
Review: In this easily readable book, the author presents not only the need to improve the "quality of life" in Nursing Homes but the steps to take to accomplish it. The concept of a "habitat for humanity" which works to eliminate the loneliness, helplessness and boredom of most nursing homes is, indeed, what is needed in a variety of long term facilities. And it is evident, the author speaks from first hand experience! Everyone long term facility in the country should be required to implement the philosphy and ideas in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Revolutionary! A wonderful paradigm shift for Nursing Homes
Review: In this easily readable book, the author presents not only the need to improve the "quality of life" in Nursing Homes but the steps to take to accomplish it. The concept of a "habitat for humanity" which works to eliminate the loneliness, helplessness and boredom of most nursing homes is, indeed, what is needed in a variety of long term facilities. And it is evident, the author speaks from first hand experience! Everyone long term facility in the country should be required to implement the philosphy and ideas in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Awards This Book Has Won
Review: The American Journal of Nursing named this a Book of the Year in gerontology. The American Medical Writers Association awarded it an Honorable Mention in its tradebook category. The Publishers Marketing Association honored it with a Benjamin Franklin Award in the Psychology/Self-Help category.

Rating:
Summary: The Only Book on the Eden Alternative!
Review: The author, a doctor of family medicine and geriatrics, is the founder of the program called the Eden Alternative that is combatting loneliness, helplessness, and boredom in nursing homes. This book describes the philosophy behind the program and then gives specific how-to information for "Edenizing" a home or facility. The Midwest Book Review calls the book "essential reading for anyone with a family member or friend in nursing care, for anyone charged with the nursing home care of residents, for social workers, health care workers, and senior citizen centers' reference shelves." The book and program are being widely publicized in articles by the Associated Press and particular newspapers, in NPR's Living on Earth and other radio programs, in CNN and CBS televised segments. Word is getting out that there is hope for our frail elderly

Rating:
Summary: the handbook to a revolution in long-term care
Review: This book provides you with all you need to know to transform a nursing home into a human habitat filled with plants animals and children. the world of long-term care really can be differen